Signal



Dec. 16, 1941. w A H v 2,266,201

- SIGNAL Filed Jan. 5, 1940 RNEY Patentecl Dec. 16, 1941 E'I'E* STATES'N'l" orsici's.

10 Claims.

This application is a Substitute for and. substantial duplicate ofapplicant's application S. N. 590,124, filed February 1, 1932, andallowed May 28, 1936, which application is now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to provide a signal consisting of means,such as a lamp, from which rays` of light can' emanate, a housing orcasing for said means or lamp having an open side, which will desirablybe closed by a transparent or translucent cover such as glass, shuttermeans between the lighting means or lamp and open side for arresting thetravel of light fromsaid lighting, means or lamp through or past theopen side Of said housingor casing and means for actuating said shuttermeans to cause rays of light emanating from the lighting means or lampto intermittently emanate from theopen side of said housing or casing,whereloy to provide intermittentilashes of' light for producing aWarning signal.

A. further object is to provide an autonmtive vehicle stop light signalconsisting of means, such asa lamp, from which rays of light' canemanate; a housing or casing for said means or lamp having an open side,a pair of rotatable shutters or disks arranged adjacent each other andbetween ao the lighting means or lamp and open side' for arresting thetravel of light from said. lighting means or lamp through" or past theopen side of said housing or casing, each of said shutters or diskshaving spaced apart operiingstherethrough, ,5

and means for revolving Said shutters or disks in opposite directions tocause openings in thedifferentshutters or disks to aline and rays oflight emana'ting from said lighting means or lamps to pass through saidalining openings as said shut ters or disks revolve and tothusintermittently cmanate from the open side of said housing or casing,whereby to provide intermittent hashesof light for producing a warningsignal. l

A further object is to provide a signal as stated, wherein a pluralityoi" spacedapart opening's in a shutter or disk of the signal will eachbe pro- Vided with' a colored, translucent covering member and thecovering member over one of said 1 shutter or disk openingS will havecolor different g t from that of the covering member over another ofsaid shutter or disk openings, whereloy the .ii'ltermittent flashes oflight provided can be any single color or any plurality of diiierentcolors flashecl in a preferred sequence to produce a dei155,

sired elfect.

A further object is to provide a signal as stated, wherein the means foractuating or revliling the shutter means or disks will be an. ordinarytype of electric motor. ,o 60,

Eulil A still further object is toprovide a signal as stated, whereinwill be incorporated improved featuresand characteristics ofconstruction novel both as. individual entitiesof'the signal and incombination with eachother, o

With the above objects in view, as' well as others which will appear asthe specification pro'- ceeds, the, invention comprises theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts as now' to be fullydescribed and as hereinaiter to loespefically claimed, it beingunderstood that' thedisclosure lierein is Inerelyiillustrative andintended in no way'in a limiting' sense, changes in details ofconstruction and" arrangement of parts' being permlSsible so long aswithin the spirit of: the invention and the scope of the claims whichfollow.

In, the accompanyingelrawing forming apart of this specificatiorn i Fig.1 is a fragmentarysectional view Of' a" signal made according to theinvention;

- Fig. 2`is a sectional view, partially in elevation andon a reducedscale, of the' whole of the signal whichis disclosed in Fig.. 1;

Fig'; 3 is an elevational View of the signal as: seen from the frontthereof; i Fig. 4 is a transverSe sectional View ta kenas on line l-4 in.Fig. 2;land

Fig. is a transverse sectional- View taken asonline 5-5 in li'ig. 2.1 l7 v Wipth respect to the dratving and numterals Of" reference thereon,-ID denotes adesirable metallic casing housing a bull); or lamp ll`therein, said lamp' being monted in the casing as denoted' generally atIZ.. The casing lil includes an' open side 13" which is covered by anordinaryens or pane I4 of transparent or translucent glass or othersuitable material.

automotive vehicle, as at IG, but itis to be under-` stood that thepresent signal can be employed asa warning signal generally and need notneceslamp I-l.

A pair of rotatable sliutters Or disks, repre sented I8 and ISrespectively, are 'arrange'd ad- .jacent each otherand between thelighting means orlamp ll and the open sideofthecas V ing to arrest thetravel oflight from said lighting means or lamp through or past theopenside- IS ofthe casing lil and each of the shutters or disks 48 and l 9has spaced apart openings, indicated 20 and 2! respectively,therethrough, VA'SJ' disclosed, each. shutter or disk has four openitigs.oi-

The lens or pane- I'4-is mounted in the caSing as derloted generally atl-5'.` 7 A A `s disclosed,the c asiiig l'with lamp or bulb I l and'transparent ortranslucent cover I 'l con stitutesan autornotivevehiclestop light' or signal" a'clapted to be supported upon therear of an"about the shutter or disk. The pane 14 is solid glass which completelycovers the open side 13 of the casing 10.

The disks 18 and 19 are adapted to be revolved in opposite directions tocause the openings 20 and 21 in the different shutters or disks to alineto thus allow rays Of light emanating from the lighting means or lamp topass through alining openings as the shutters or disks revolve, wherebysaid rays of light will intermittently emanate from the open side of thehousing or casing and through the pane 14 to provide intermittentiiashes Of light for producing a warning signal. A stationary axle orshaft for the shutters or disks [8 and 19 is denoted at 22. Said shaft22 is .supported at its outer end upon the pane 14 and at its inner endfixedly carries a member 23 which provides the field, of the permanentmagnet type, of an ordinary electric motor far actu ating the shuttersor disks 18 and 19.

As disclosed, the outer end of the stationary shaft 22 has 'a reducedthreaded extension 24 which passes through a threaded opening in antaxternally threaded fitting 25. A thumb nut 26 upon the threadedextension 24 and turned down against the tting rigidly fastens the axleor shaft 22 to said fitting. 'The fitting 25 freely passes through anopening 26111 arranged ccntrallyof the pane 14 and is held in stationaryrelation to said pane by means of annular, internally threaded washers27 which are screwed on member 25 and engage the inner and outersurfaces of the pane 14. The member 23 providing the field of theelectric motor has a central threaded opening 28 arranged upon an innerreduced threaded extension 23 of the axle or shaft 22 and. a thumb nut30 upon said threaded extension 29 and turned down against the member 23rigidly fastens said member to the axle or shaft 22. 7

The shutters or disks 18 and 19 may be of any. preferred materialsuitable to their purpose. Said shutters or disks are spaced apartslightly and are mounted upon the stationary axle or shaft 22 to beperpendicular thereto and parallel with the pane 14. As discloSed, theshutter or disk. 18 includes a hub 31 which is perpendioular to the bodyof the shutter or disk and extends inwardly therefrom, said hub 31 beingrotatably mounted upon the axle or shaft 22 between the member 23 and aninner shoulder 32 upon said axle or shaft. The shutter or disk 19includes a hub -33 which is perpendicular to the body ofthe shutter ordisk and. extends outwardly therefrom, said hub 33 being rotatablymounted upon the axle or shaft 22 between the iitting 25 and an outershoulder 34 upon said axle or shaft.

. The-member or field 23 includes an annular flange 35 whichconcentrically surrounds the hub 31 in spaced relation thereto, and theexternally threaded portion of the fitting 25 which is carried by theannular threaded members 27 is in spaced relation to the hub 33 'as willbe moreclear from Fig. 1.

The stationary axle or shaft 22 can be carried solely by the pane 14 asdisclosed and in turn stationarily carry the member 23 or an additionalsupport (not shown) for said member 23 can-be provided.

- The electric motor including the field 23 may also include an ordinarytype of armature 36 with insulated windings 37, commutator 38 and beingdesignated and 41. The armature is a three-pole ai'mature and thecommutator is a three-segment commutator, although the structure can bevaried in this regard. The armature 36 and the corrimutator 38 are fixedto rotate with the hub 31 but separated therefrom by insulation 42 andsaid armature and commutator are themselves separated by insulabody ofthe shutter or disk 10 with the hub 33,

tion 43. The brushes 39 are insulatively inounted in the member 23, asat 44, to engage the commutator in ordinary fashion and the armatureissurrouncled by the annular flange 35 of said member 23.

The lead wires 40 and 41 extend from a source of electric current supplywhich may be the same source as that for lighting the lamp 11. When theelectric circuit including said lead wires 40 and. 41 is closed, theelectric motor will, obviously, be energized and the armature 36 willthus be caused to rotate to in turn rotate the hub 31 and with it theshutter or disk 18, upon the stationary axle or shaft 22.

An annular L-shape web 45, which connects the body of the shutter ordisk 18 with the hub 31, is constructed to provide a bevel gear 46 whichmeshes with a pinion 47 fixed upon a .pin 48 carried by the stationaryaxle or shaft 22. An annular L-shape web49, which connects the isconstructed to provide a bevel gear 50 with which the pinion 47 meshes.The L-shape web is disposed inwardly from the body of the shutter ordisk 18 and, the L-shape web 49 is disposed outwardly from the body ofthe shutter or disk 13 to space the bevel gears 46 and 50 apart in orderthat these may properly engage the pinion 47. The shoulders 32 and 34cooperate with the member 23 and the hub 31 and the fitting 25 and thehub 33, respectively, to maintain the bevel gear and the pinion in thedesired relation as will be understood.

It will be evident that upon rotation of the shutter ordisk 18 byenergization of the electric motor in the manner as set forth, torevolve the shutter or disk 18, the hub 31 and the bevel gear 46, saidbevel gear 46 will act upon the pinion 47 to cause this to be revolvedand said pinion will in turn act upon the bevel gear 50 to revolve theshutter or disk 19 and the hub 'said shutters or disks in oppositedirections,

the openings in the different shutters or disks will successively aline,`as will be apparent and. allow rays of light emanating from thelighting .means or lamp 11 to pass through the alining ti' openings asthe shutters or disks relatively re- Gif" duc1ng at warning signalvolveto thus intermittently emanate from the open side of the casing 10,throughthe transparent or translucent pane 14 as shown, whereby toprovide intermittent flashes of light for pro- As shown, each of thespaced apart openings 20 in the inner shutter or disk 18 is provided'sirably being of Celluloid and attached against with a colored,translucent covering member, represented 51, said covering members 51dethe inner surface of the shutter or disk 18 by means of rivets 52-..Each of the covering members 5l may be a different color, or all ofsaid covering members may be the same color, or

brushes 39, ordinary lead Wires to said brushes one or a plurality maybe the same color while others are of variantcolor. SIt has been foundgreen, one yellow and one blue.

-In Fig. the arrows indicate that the shutters or disks ia and li aretravelling in opposite directions. The rays of light shine through theopenings in both shutters or disks and through the colored coveringmembers when said :shutter -or disk openings totally:or partially aline.The Shutters `Or disks 'iS and is are of course composed of opaquematerial, metal or fibre, ,for instance, and the effect of relativerotation of the shutters or "disks in the arrangement :as disolosed isthe production of eight flashes of four different colors in fourdifferent positions for each complete revolution of the shutters ordisks. Other eects too innumerable to be mentioned can evidentlybeproduced, as, for example, an optical eiiect of rotation, the deadportions travelling one way and the colors travelling the opposite way,etc.

-In cases where all of the coveringmembers -5i are the Same color, theintermittent flashes of light will also be a single color. Bytheemployment of covering members Ell having several different colors, aplurality of different colors can be flashed through the pane Hi toproduce any desired and predeterminedeffect.

It will be apparent that by varying the color scheme of the coveringmembers EI, warning signals of a variety of different colors andcombinations of colors can be produce. Also, the signalling effect canbe varied by altering the relative rates of speed of rotation of theshutters or disks IB and IS. As disclosed, said shutters or disks travelat equal speed in opposite directions. Obviously, the arrangement couldbe such that the shutters or disks will rotate at unequal rates of speedeither in opposite direction or in the same direction.

In practice, when the signal is employed as an automotive vehicle stoplight signal, it may be that the lamp II is normally dark, but becomesenergized, together with the electric motor of the signal, when thevehicle operator depresses his brake lever to close an electric circuit,or Circuits, including the lamp li, as well as the lead wires it and 4!.Immediately upon energization of the electric motor, the shutters ordisks IB and 19 commence to revolve and upon de-energization of saidelectric motor, said shutters or disks immediately come to rest.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the cope of applicant's invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts combinations of parts disclosed and defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal device having in combination, a housing having an open frontside and being substantiaily circular in vertical cross section, a lenscovering said open side, a lamp disposed axially of said housing in itsrear portion, shutter means between said lamp and said lens forintermittingly arresting the travel of light from said lamp through saidlens and means between said lamp and lens supported by said lens andspaced from said housing for rotating said shutter means to 'l `aicauseflashes :of light to pass J'froin tsaid lainp pair" o f oppositelyrotating shutter members each llaving openings therethrough between saidlamp and said open- 'side, :actuating means for otating said sh ut termembers in opposite directions to interrupt the light from said lamp andcause zii ashe o'flig'ht to pass through said lensgancl :means-carriet l--by said lens for supportingsaid :Shutter members and actuating means,said 'shutter members and actuating means bein :.space frornsaidhousing.

3. A-sign'al device having in combination, a housing having an open'front side, a transparent cover for said side, "a lamp disposedcentrally of said housing and about the same horizontal axis as saiiihous;ing;rotatable shutter members havin'g openings "ther-ethroug'hbetween said lamp and cover and. an electric motor betweensaid. lampan-'d cover having an armature shaft Coaxial V/ th. saifi iamp andShutter members for rotating said 'Shutter inembersin oppositedirections -to cause iiashes of light to pass from said lamp -throu`g'h"said cover,said motor being spaced from said hotising.

r i. Ji. signal device having in combination, a

hous'ing 'llavin'g a Cylindrical front portion and.

'liavi ng an open front side, a transparent -or -translucent coverclosing: said side, alamp-mountod in said. housing, rotatzible shuttermembers between said lamp and said cover and spaced from the wall of.said housing, and means spaced from aid housing for rotating saidshutter members, said lamp, shutter members in opposite directions andlast mentioned means being coaxial with said housing, said shuttermembers acting to cause intermittent flashes of light to be transmittedthrough said cover.

5. A signal device having in combination, a housing having an open frontside, a transparent cover for said open side, a lamp disposed in therear portion of said housing, a member supported by and centrally ofsaid cover, a shaft secured in said member, a pair of rotatable disksmounted on said shaft in front of said lamp for rotation thereon, saiddisks forming shutters and. having circumferentially spaced openingstherein disposed between said shaft and the edges of said disks, saidopenings in one disk registering with the openings in said other disk, amotor mounted on said shaft, and means driven by said motor forrevolving said disks in opposite directions, vvhereby intermittentiiashes are transmitted from said lamp through said cover, said lamp andshaft being arranged coaxially, with said housing.

6. A signal device having in combination, a housing having a centralhorizontal axis, a, lamp mounted in the rear of said housing coaxiallytherewith, said housing having an open front side, a transparent coverfor said side, a member mounted in said cover coaxially With saidhousing, disk members journaled on said member for rotation about theaxis thereof and between said spaced from said housing, said disksrespectively having circumferentially spaced openings therethrough whichregister in the rotation of said Vi disks whereby fiashes of light areintermittently transmitted through said cover.

7. A signal device having in combination, a housing formed about ahorizontal central axis, a lamp mounted in said housing, said housinghaving an open front side, a transparent cover closing said side, ashaft carried by said cover and. projecting rearwardly into saidhousing, a pair of disks each having a portion journaled on said shaftfor rotation thereori and disposed. between said lamp and cover, a motormounted on said Shaft spaced from said housing and having a rotatableportion Secured to one of said disks, said disks having adjacentportions formed as gears and a pinion carried by said Shaft between andmeshing with said gears, whereb,v both disks are driven in oppositedirections 10-3 said motor, said disks having respectiveiycircumferentially spaced openings adapted to register, said disks thusforming shutters whereby flashes of light are transmitted throughsaideover, said' lamp and shaft being arranged coaxially with saidhousing. o

8. A signal device having in combination, a housing having B. centralaxis and an open front end, a lens closing said front end, a lampmounted in the rear of said housing and coaxial therewith, B. bearingsupported by and centrally of said lens, a shaft carried in said bearingcoaxial with said housing and projecting rearvvardls thereinto, a pairof disks each having a portion journaled on said shaft for rotationthereon, a motor mounted on said shaft and having a rotatable portionconnected to one of said disks and gearing between said disks wherebyboth disks are driven by said motor in opposite directions, said diskseach having circumferentially spaced openings therethrough between saidshaft and the edges of said disks, said openings registering in therespective disks, said disks thus forming shutters whereby flashes oflight are transmitted through said lens.

9. A signal device having in combination, av housing having an openfront side, B. lens closing said front side, a lamp mounted in saidhousing, a member mounted and carried in said lens, rotatable disksbetween said lamp and lens mounted on said member, said disks havingopenings therethrough between said member and their edges, said openingsin one disk registering with those in another and an actuating meansmounted on said member independently of said housing for rotating saiddisks in opposite directions so as to cause registration of said openingat very small intervals.

10. A signal device having in combination, a housing having an openfront side, a lens closing said side, a lamp in the rear of saidhousing, a member supported by said lens in front of said lamp,rotatable disks mounted on said member having circumferentially spacedopenings therein between said member and their edges, the openings inone disk registering with those in another and an actuating means forsaid disks also mounted on said member and disposed in front of saidlamp for rotating said disks in opposite directions, said rotating diskscausing ilashes of light to be transmitted through said lens.

, WILBUR, A. I-IEIDEL.

